I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book and the series as a whole. While it is book 3 in the series ,it can be read as a stand alone even with appearances by previous characters.
The Davies and Montgomerys families have been enemies for generations. Morgan and Harriet have continued the rivalry though dares there whole lives. When Morgan leaves for the navy, Harriet's last dare is one Morgan will win because the reward is 3 kisses.
I like Morgan and Harriet together. I love how determined Morgan was to win Harriet. The map side plot wasn't barely used but I really enjoyed everything else.

4.25 stars!

This was another steamy and highly entertaining addition to the Davies-Montgomery saga! I absolutely loved the dynamic and tension between Harriet and Morgan; their constant teasing and witty banter made for such great chemistry and some truly memorable moments between them. Their courtship was a little slow-burn as Morgan struggled to prove his sincerity in his love and devotion towards Harriet, but he was so sweet and supportive of her that Harriet couldn't avoid his advances for long. My only complaint is that I wish the danger from the Frenchman had played a larger role throughout the story instead of just swooping in at the end. Other than that, I absolutely adored Harriet and Morgan's romance, and I am so freaking stoked for Rhy's book next!

Tropes: childhood frenemies-to-lovers, family feud, rake hero, virgin heroine, secret pining, lessons in seduction, slow burn, hate-to-love-you, STEAMY🔥

A Wicked Game is a prime example of why Kate Bateman is an insta-buy author for me! Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies have undeniable, combustible chemistry. Heroes who fall in love first and set out to woo their lady are like catnip to me.

I appreciate books with strong heroines and witty banter. Kate is the queen of witty banter! Harriet “Harry” Montgomery is most definitely a strong and capable woman and equal to the Davies challenge.

I enjoyed the backstory she provided for these two engaging characters. She masterfully wove the book’s title into the conversation between Harriet and Morgan.

As for the steam level of this book…let’s just say my glasses fogged up several times. Bets between a Davies and a Montgomery have some very hot outcomes. I can’t wait for Rhys’s story!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed above are my own.

Excellent story. I enjoyed Morgan and Harry, they were both witty and fun characters. The steam was good. Would recommend. The series is a fun one.

Captain Morgan Davies returns to London after a shipwreck with revenge and kisses on his mind! He and his long-time “nemesis,” Harriet Montgomery, made a bet and he’s ready to cash in. But convincing the infuriating woman he wants to marry her is going to be his greatest challenge yet!

This is the third book in the Ruthless Rivals series, which focuses on family members from the feuding Davies and Montgomery families. Harriet's cousin Maddie and Morgan's eldest brother Griff are the couple from book one and they play a role in this story.

Kate Bateman - and this series - keeps delivering! The story is quick to start and pulls the reader right in to Morgan and Harriet's "I dare you" friendship. The chemistry sizzles as Harriet had bet Morgan three kisses that he wouldn't return home safely...unfortunately (or fortunately, wink) for her, she didn't specify what kind of kisses or where on her body he could place them!

There was also an excellent secondary story taking place, and it weaved in beautifully. Harriet has been helping her father's map making business by secretly helping the British Navy with fake maps to use against enemies. A threat from Morgan's past catches up to them and a French ex-soldier comes looking for one of the falsified maps, putting them both in danger.

I was completely engaged in this story and the end, in particular, pushed all the right romance buttons. I hope this isn't the end for the Montgomery-Davies feud because I'd love to see Rhys find a match, too!

Tropes: Feuding Families, Childhood Friends, Frenemies-to-Lovers, Working Heroine, Soldiers/Sailors/War, Revenge, Spy/Govt Work

Steam: 3

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #AWickedGame #NetGalley

I've enjoyed each book in this series and this one is just as wonderful. This can be read as a stand alone story. Previous characters do make appearances and the back story of the feud between the two families is explained, complete with childhood stories with much teasing.

Morgan and Harriet are a fantastic couple, each a perfect match for the other. The teasing, bantering, betting, and daring each other were so much fun to read about. The side plot with the villain felt a bit like an after thought, but this did not bother me at all. It was used as a catalyst to get Morgan and Harriet to interact more and it worked just fine that way. The story itself revolved around the main characters and what it would take for them to end up together. The chemistry between them was steamy and playful and in the end very satisfying.

Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Harriet Montgomery was happy working secretly as a mapmaker in place of her father and took joy in it. Harriet did have one person who was the bane of her existence though, Captain Morgan Davies would get under her skin always. Before Morgan goes to fight a war against Napoleon, Harriet makes a bet with him that if he returns alive, she will give him three kisses. When Morgan comes back though he plans on doing is getting revenge on the mapmaker Robinson Crusoe who caused him to be stuck in an island prison. When Morgan returns, he plans to meet the guy and for him to explain and apologize to him and to get to finally kiss Harriet who he has been waiting to see. Morgan secretly loves here despite the animosity and frustrating verbal spats they always seem to have. Morgan decides not only will he kiss her but he will also make her his wife. When Morgan finds out that Harriet created that same map that put him in prison, he doesn’t know whether to fight with her or sleep with her.
What an amazingly clever enemies to lovers historical that is a joy to read! Yes, the trope isn’t an easy thing to write either because at times it seems they are just downright cruel to each other even with all the sexual tension and verbal bantering happening. The book never slows down and the writing practically shines with each encounter of the hero and heroine. Morgan, the handsome brash hero is just positively swoon-worthy even when he is fighting or making love with Harriet that nonetheless, he manages to be a great book boyfriend! Harriet the feisty independent heroine is also a charming heroine too. I loved the fact that she is not a damsel in distress and doesn’t want anyone including the hero thinking that she can’t take care of or save herself. This is easily a five-star book and yes, I look forward to the next in the series! Ms. Kate Bateman knows how to write a uniquely captivating story from beginning to end!

4/5. Releases 12/27/2022.
Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery have grown up in families that at odds--but while they don't get along, they aren't quite enemies. Before Morgan goes off to sea, Harriet promises him that if he comes back alive, he'll get to give her three kisses--wherever he wants. Years later, he returns after being imprisoned with a whole new perspective. He wants Harriet for his own, not as a friend or an enemy, and he'll use those three kisses as a good little jumping off point for his plans to win her.

So to be super real, this one doesn't have like, a huge PLOTTY PLOT PLOT thing. It's mostly a sexy romantic comedy that focuses on two people who are fun and likable and hot and don't have deep internal issues aside from not quite knowing how to go from friendly rivals to lovers. (I mean, he totally knows how, she's just a bit less experienced.) And normally, I think that would bug me, a supreme lover of angst and fucked upedness and drama. But here? It really didn't. It was pretty delightful. Why?

What Worked:
--Morgan and Harriet have great chemistry and read like two people who've known each other since childhood. And even if they've never been like, confidants, they know one another deeply due to that proximity, and know how to push each other's buttons.

--Tonally speaking, their relationship absolutely had the vibe of the "This Is My Idea" from The Swan Princess, which I know is deeply ingrained in the minds of many romance readers of a certain age. If you liked that, you'll like this. Morgan and Harriet are that without the arranged marriage, and with a good deal more emotional maturity (but not so much that the story is boring) and no insta-love. It's pretty clear that these two have had a thing for each other since they were kids, and it just took some good old-fashioned imprisonment for Morgan to go "ARRANGE THE MARRIAGE!!!"

--The supporting cast is hilarious (I assume we'll get a Rhys book... I mean his name is fucking Rhys and he doesn't wanna get married...?) and anyone who enjoys "everyone can see it" will have a good time with them.

--This is actually a pretty hot trad historical romance, I've gotta say, especially for one that's a bit lower angst. There's really good flirting, you get some light blindfold action, a lot of foreplay--I mean, the three kisses are essentially a sex bet. And it never feels like Harriet is in over her head, though Morgan is obviously much more experienced than she is and knows exactly what he's doing with this three kisses shit; Bateman does some maneuvering to make sure it feels super consensual. Which, honestly, isn't always a must for me as a reader, but it's a must for the tone of this book. And then you get some last minute shenanigans that I didn't expect but was super into.

--Great grand gesture, much appreciate.

--Going back to that sex stuff though... How refreshing to have a good bit of sex in the book, acknowledge Harriet's worries about ruination... and then go "well, shit happens". I'm so over historical romance reviewers (some of which I'm sure will dog this book out) acting as if nobody had sex before marriage in Days of Yore. And everyone who did was found out and ruined.

First off, as with today, money and the right connections can get you a fuckton of leeway. The Duchess of Devonshire literally had a child out of wedlock with a future prime minister, and with the right maneuvering, got back to her top spot in society in no time. And she was not the only one. People could be scandalous, and still received, because you had no choice but to receive them. And considering how much historical romance focuses on the upper crust...

Aside from that, it's just like--cool, so we'll accept all the dukes and the hot people with all their teeth and the lack of STIs but we won't accept people fucking out of wedlock just for fun? Okay!!!

But that's a huge digression, and I use it to say that I loved how this book treated sex. Harriet lets Morgan do stuff to her because she's curious and it's fun and let's be real, she's highkey in love with him even if she doesn't realize it at the moment. Harriet does some reckless shit because it feels good and she knows how to get away with it. One of my favorite parts of this book was someone realizing that Shit Went Down and going "listen, lots of people do that and we just don't talk about it, you're hardly the first one to go for it". Like... what a nice change of pace. Someone fucked out of wedlock in 18whatever it wasn't the end of the world.

What Didn't Work (For Me):
--There was a last minute plot device danger at the very end that lasted for like 30 seconds, and it felt pretty forced. This is an emotional book, not a plotty book. And that's cool! It wasn't a big detractor, it just didn't super work for me.

If you kinda wanna have fun and read about people who've known each other for years sniping at one another and then raw dogging in a fun environment, this is a great book for you. And a great series--I have yet to read the first, but I totally am, and A Daring Pursuit was really fun as well.

But for reals, don't dare a Davies if you want to keep your tender virginity intact.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

3.5 ⭐ 2.5 🌶️

Although not a new favorite, this was a fun and enjoyable read. It's got witty banter, a little bit of action/suspense, and some great steam.

This is the third book in The Ruthless Rivals series and follows Harriet and Morgan, who have been secretly in love with each other despite being on opposite sides of a generations-long family feud. The night before Morgan ships off to war, he and Harriet make a scandalous bet—if he returns from the war, Harriet will grant him three kisses. While at war, an inaccurate map causes Morgan's ship to be shipwrecked where he and his crew are captured and imprisoned for months. When he finally makes it back to London, he has two goals: to claim his three kisses from Harriet and to exact revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering. That is, until he learns that Harriet is the cartographer.

❌ Based on the synopsis, I thought the fact that Harriet is revealed to be the cartographer would be a much bigger part of the story than it actually was. I didn't get the sense that Morgan was trying to exact his revenge through his seduction. It felt like as soon as he learned the truth, that was that and he just dropped it. There were other things that happened throughout the book that felt similarly anti-climactic. Overall, the plot just felt a bit under-developed to me.

🆗 The rivalry between the Davies and Montgomery's, while mentioned constantly, didn't seem like much of a rivalry to me. It just seemed like they all liked to joke and tease each other about it. I didn't read the first two books in the series, so I'm probably missing a lot of background and context.

✅ All that aside, I did find this to be an enjoyable read. I loved the dynamic between Morgan and Harriet. They're evenly matched—both with quick wits and sharp tongues. The tension between the two of them was delicious and watching them navigate all the mixed signals and try to figure out what was real kept me turning the page. It was by far the best part of the book. And the banter between the two of them was fantastic.

✅ Hero (H): 4⭐. I really liked Morgan. There's no question in his mind that he wants Harriet and I loved his determination to win her heart. I think what I liked most, though, was his flirtatious banter with Harriet. And his grand gesture was very cute too.

🆗 Heroine (h): 3.5⭐. I really liked Harriet but I found her constant doubts about Morgan's motives to be a bit much. She questioned every nice thing he did, chalking it up to some sort of scheme because of their rivalry. And then, like a light switch, she just realizes he's being sincere. A bit unrealistic in my opinion. Being a cartographer, she's not your typical historical romance heroine, which was refreshing. She's intelligent and she's got spunk. I also loved her witty and sarcastic comments.

✅ I also loved the Davies brothers and it makes me want to pick up their books next.

If you're in the mood for a feel-good historical romance where the plot is secondary, but the tension and steam is top notch then this might be for you.

Am I glad I read it? ✅ Yes
Would I recommend this book? ✅ Probably
Would I read this book again? 🔘 Maybe
Will I read more books by this author? ✅Probably

Genre/Tropes: Historical Romance ◾️ Regency Romance ◾️ Rival Families ◾️ Frenemies to Lovers ◾️ Steamy Bet/Wager

POV: There are no explicit POV chapters, but it does switch between Morgan and Harriet's POV in third person, past tense.
Pacing: Good. I never skimmed.
Sadness: Low


❗❗Content Warnings (Potential Spoilers)❗❗
* Imprisonment (off page)
* Torture/Whipping (off page)
* Virgin Heroine

⚠️Safety Info (Potential Spoilers)⚠️
Age Gap: No
Explicit Sex: Yes.   [Multiple explicit scenes (~4 scenes) that are somewhat detailed.]
Virgin h/H: Virgin heroine
Cheating: No
OW/OM Drama: No
Sex with OW/OM: No
Separation: No
NonCon/DubCon: No
Sexual Abuse/Assault: No
H/h Death: No
Ending: HEA with epilogue

Love the romantic tension between the Davies family and the Montgomerys! Morgan and Harriet ratchet it up with their ongoing fussing and feuding. They love annoying the heck out of each other and their one-up-man-ship. However, there is nothing like jeopardy to reveal what is behind the bickering and bring it out into the open. This is another entertaining entry in the Ruthless Rivals series.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley


I loved this book so much. After reading the first book of this series, I decided to skip book two because I didn’t find myself drawn to those characters. BUT I loved Harriet and Morgan SO MUCH. Morgan was everything that I wanted from the previous heroes and Harriet was so charming to read about.

I was literally hooked to the story from page one because three kisses in the result of a dare as the basic plot to this story? Yes, please. The tension that is sizzling between these two made me want to devour this book in one sitting and immerse myself in this world with these characters. The three kisses were such a fun plot and I loved how cheeky Morgan was in completing those three kisses. I also enjoyed seeing all of the couples from the previous books and the additions that they added to the story.

Harriet: LOVE her. She is a fierce heroine who is an anonymous map drawer under the name of Crusoe. I loved how cleaver she was about preventing plagiarism and I loved how determined she was in the moment she decides she wants Morgan. It takes a long time for Harriet to realize she should just take what she wants and know that she deserves whatever she wants. Sometimes parents in books seem very pointless to me, but the bond that Harriet and her dad had was so beneficial to the story.

Morgan: I usually don’t gravitate toward heroes of Morgan’s nature, but he was so fun that it was basically inevitable. Morgan was a man on a mission this whole book. That mission being to get Harriet to marry him. I loved how the man didn’t hide his intentions and what he was feeling. There was no miscommunication in this book and that is solely because of Morgan. The chemistry and tension between Harriet and Morgan was a staple in the book and it was perfect. I found myself falling in love with Harriet and Morgan as people and then together as a couple.

This book was so great and definitely my favorite from Kate Bateman thus far. I’m hoping Rhys gets his own romance! I feel like the end of this book definitely set up the chance of romance for him!

I was enthralled by this novel the moment I picked it up. I loved the pining between the couple and their spark of animosity built from childhood. Their banter was perfection and it lead to some passionate encounters, which were delicious.

There were so many occasions where instead of highlighting a quote here or there, I was highlighting pages at a time, and bookmarking entire chapters. And the relationship between the Davies brothers always brought a smile to my face. I love those moments where side characters express that it has been obvious to the outside world that one of the characters has been in love with the other, just not obvious to the character themselves.

I continually found myself devouring each chapter in quick succession only to try and convince myself to slow down and savor the story before it came to an end. I am so looking forward to Rhys's story and wonder which of the hidden Montgomery cousins will be his match!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am immediately purchasing the first two in the series!

I received a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this read as a “well that wasn’t a terrible way to spend the afternoon” kind of book. It was fun and silly and spicy enough for HR to be worth reading.

This was a totally serviceable regency romance with pretty well-written steamy scenes and a reasonably well-placed plot (though a couple moments missed the beat, not enough to be a huge issue). I had not read the previous books in the series but the gist wasn’t hard to grasp: their families have feuded for ages but these two grew up together, always taunting and daring, and now as adults they pine for each other but are both too wily to just come out and admit it. So they engage in escalating moments of oneupmanship and it’s a slow burn with lots of tension. The tension is probably the most enjoyable and magnetic part of the story. The rest of it was a bit boring for me.

There were a couple of really great moments of dialogue, but for a couple who is supposed to have searing banter, I expected to feel more…moved? humored? anything? I felt like I was given a lot of details from the narration but when I the story was supposed to come to life on the page through action, it stumbled a bit. And in general the dialogue also felt anachronistic to a degree that I found distracting.

This is maybe personally only bothersome to me, but at one point, a main character throws water on a fire caused by an oil lamp…and it doesn’t make the fire worse? I know this is such a small thing but again it totally took me out of the story and I couldn’t come back. Since this happened at a critical moment, it kind of ruined the proceeding events for me.

So all in all, would I read this particular story again? No. Nothing special enough for me to revisit. Would I go back and read the two previous books in the series? Maybe…? I put them in an ever lengthening TBR pile at my local library in the Libby app. Sometimes I dont want to read the most perfectly written novel. Sometimes I want a casual read that still works if I’m not fully invested. That has its own kind of value, imo. This book is one of those. Not amazing, not terrible, perfectly enjoyable at the right time. That said, if you read ONLY historical romances and you’re always looking for another one, it may be worth your time to check out this book and the authors work in general. It definitely had its moments. I maybe tend to be a harsher critic for HR than say fantasy or PNR. Ymmv!

"And love isn't about grand gestures. It's all the tiny, everyday, seemingly insignificant things that all add up to something big."

This was just the read my heart needed! There wasn't a ton of angst, but Kate Bateman created a delicious slow burn in this childhood rivals/friends to lovers historical romance. While you don't *need* to read the previous two books before starting this one, it would make A Wicked Game more enjoyable since they give more backstory to the family rivalries and previous characters from those books do appear.

Things to look forward to:
- The pining! There's an entire forest of longing and pining between Morgan and Harriet. I loved the little glimpses of their past interactions and how it all developed. I actually wish there had been more!
- Morgan. I love a hero who is all in and knows what he wants. There is never a doubt about his intentions or wishes when it comes to Harriet. All the little (and big) things he did to show he cared had me swooning. Yes, there is a bit of idiots to lovers going on between them, but I appreciated that there was never some misunderstanding or action that got blown out of proportion.
- Harriet. I loved how intelligent (well in areas besides love) and independent she was. Her relationship with her father was the sweetest. She was so witty and clever and her back and forth with Morgan was such a highlight of the book. I especially enjoyed when she took charge of her sexual desires and knew just which of Morgan's buttons to push.
- The steam! Morgan's "twist" on the three kisses had me fanning myself (bravo to Kate Bateman for that LOL). I loved the chemistry and banter between these two and it translated into some serious heat in the bedroom!
- The grand gesture. My heart, my heart, my heart! Even though it technically wasn't needed by that point, it was such a perfect thing to showcase the love between them and celebrate Harriet.

The map/hidden gold plotline was a little over the top, but I didn't mind too much since the book didn't have a ton of drama overall. Plus, it set up a wonderful epilogue for our adventurers. I'm not sure if there are more books planned in the series, but some major bread crumbs were dropped for Rhys and the "wild" branch of the Montgomery family. I hope we do get his book, since he is set to have an epic take down by love LOL.

A Wicked Game is 100% my favorite from the series so far!

CW: death of parent (past), mentions of: imprisonment, torture, whipping, solitary confinement, war, and death (past), attempted murder/threats to safety (on page), FMC's father has gradually lost his sight, clothing of a secondary character briefly catches fire

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

What a wonderful love story! Morgan and Harriet have known each other since they were kids. What neither of them knew was that they both had deeper feelings for each other. What Morgan goes through to show her how much he loves her is wonderful. Great characters and great story.

Captain Morgan Davies has finally returned to London after a faulty map left him and his crew shipwrecked and imprisoned on a French island. Only two thoughts kept Morgan going through the hell he's seen: enacting sweet revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering and seeing Harriet Montgomery again. Before he left for the war, Morgan and Harriet, his childhood nemesis, struck a deal that if he lived, she would grant him three kisses. When it turns out Harriet is also the cartographer, Morgan decides to up the ante on their bet-- he doesn't just want to claim his kisses; he wants Harriet as his own. But when a threat from Morgan's past reemerges putting them both in danger, the pair soon realize that all their years of teasing and taunting weren't fueled by animosity but desire, and they're willing to fight to stay together.

This is my favorite series by Bateman. Each book keeps getting better and better, and this is easily my favorite of the bunch. My favorite thing in romance is when two characters constantly bicker to hide their feelings for one another, and Morgan and Harriet's dynamic executed that perfectly. I loved how they weren't afraid to tease and rile the other up. There were so many moments that had me chuckling and smiling to myself. The chemistry between them was off the charts, and I was swooning over Morgan alongside Harriet. I was a little nervous that the third-act conflict and drama would be too much, but I liked how everything played out. As with the previous books, I love seeing all the interactions between the families. They're so fun and bring another layer of humor and heart to the stories. Now, don't mind me, I'll just be counting down the days until the next book in my hands.

What can I say I'm a sucker for books including romances especially romances that include sea captains as heroes. What can I say I have a literary hero type.

3.5 ⭐️’s

Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery have chemistry! ✨
As young people, Harriet and Morgan had a palpable chemistry that others could see, but they merely viewed their interactions as a game of vexing and taunting one another. Yet, when they reunite as adults, that same attraction and playfulness turns into a one-sided courtship that challenges the status quo.

I enjoyed the playfulness between Morgan and Harriet. At times, I struggled with the commentary on how much of a ladies man Morgan has been over the years. I know that you can love someone and still have other romantic relationships, but I struggled with that dynamic. It feels as if Morgan has all the power in the relationship with the depth and breadth of his knowledge and experience. He wants Harriet, and Morgan gets what he wants. There really is not a lot of development as characters, which I found a tad disappointing. But the chemistry (have I mentioned the chemistry?), is definitely palpable and leaps off the page.

I have enjoyed the series thus far and I enjoy the dynamic of the two feuding families coming together through marriage. Unfortunately, this story was a lot looser in regards to the plot. The villain and his plot line felt extraneous and the tension was just not there. I am a reader that likes some tension and angst. For me, it didn't quite hit that sweet spot that keeps me from setting a story down.

If you like the friends-to-lovers trope and a low angst romance, this is it! Characters from previous books make appearances, but this can be read as a stand alone.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC thanks to St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

A fast paced exciting series with just enough steam to keep you turning pages. The fact that the prior characters are also a good part of the storyline makes it easy to pick up where the last book left off.

3.5 Stars

This was a cute book, and I was drawn to it after reading the first book in this series. I really enjoyed the first one and I though the synopsis on this one sounded just as good. It was good and the characters were cute, but the pacing felt slow and there was never any real animosity between the leads, like the synopsis leads the reader to believe. Also, there was no real conflict in the story until the last 30ish pages? I thought there would be more, but it felt like just a small side premise that was just thrown in there for some minor action.

It was cute and the characters were cute, but I felt like it could have been so much more.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.